Print“Further reduction in the amount of trans fat in the American diet could prevent an additional 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year, says FDA's Hamburg. ”
The death knell may strike soon for artificial trans fats in processed foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that partially hydrogenated oils, the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” for use in food. The agency has opened a 60-day comment period to collect additional data and to gain input on the time food manufacturers will need to reformulate products that currently contain artificial trans fat should the FDA’s determination be finalized.
“While consumption of potentially harmful artificial trans fat has declined over the last two decades in the United States, current intake remains a significant public health concern,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg. “Further reduction in the amount of trans fat in the American diet could prevent an additional 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year – a critical step in the protection of Americans’ health.”
It’s conclusion, based on the findings of expert scientific panels, is not surprising, as trans fats have been shown to raise the level of low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, and increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The independent Institute of Medicine has concluded that there is no safe level of consumption of artificial trans fat.
Food manufacturers have been steadily decreasing the amount of trans fats in foods, but they are still found in a number of processed foods, such as certain desserts, microwave popcorn products, frozen pizzas, margarines, and coffee creamers.
The FDA says that since trans fat content information began appearing in the nutritional content of food labels in 2006, trans fat intake among American consumers has declined from 4.6 grams per day in 2003 to about 1 gram per day in 2012.
If the FDA’s preliminary determination becomes final, partially hydrogenated oils will be considered food additives and cannot be used in food unless authorized by regulation. If this is the case, the agency will give producers enough time to reformulate products to minimize market disruption. The small amounts of naturally occurring trans fat in certain meat and dairy products are not be affected by the FDA’s determination.
November 07, 2013
http://www.burrillreport.com/article-fda_looks_to_eliminate_trans_fats_from_food_.html
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